Tampa took Game 1 of this series Friday night 5-4 in 18
innings, then took Game 2 Saturday 5-1, then won Sunday 3-1.

So Tampa has won eight of its last 11 games, and now leads
the American League wild-card race by a half-game over second-place Cleveland
and two games over third-place Texas.

Baltimore, meanwhile, has lost its last four games and eight
of its last 12, dropping to 4.5 games back of the Indians in the battle for
that second wild-card spot.

Tampa Bay leads this season series 12 games to six, with the
totals going 7-7-2.

Monday's Pitching
Match-Up

Archer (9-7, 3.02) is 12-for-21 on quality starts this
season, and two for his last two. Most recently he held Texas to two runs
through six innings, and just before that he held Minnesota scoreless on three
hits through six innings.

Over his last seven starts Archer has allowed more than two
earned runs just once.

On the season, which for Archer started in June, he's given
up 97 hits in 122 innings, walked 35 and struck out 90.

Tampa has won 13 of Archer's 21 starts this year. In his one start this season against Baltimore Archer gave
up just one run and two hits through seven innings of a 2-1 Rays win back in
June.

Lefty Chen (7-7, 4.03) is 10-for-21 on quality starts this
year, but just one for his last five. Last time out he gave up three runs and
11 hits through 5 2/3 innings against Boston, and over his last five starts
he's allowed 21 ER through 25 2/3 innings.

For the season, Chen has given up 127 hits in 127 innings,
walked 36 and struck out 95.

Baltimore is 11-10 in Chen's starts this year. In his two starts this year against Tampa Chen has allowed
four ER and 13 hits through 12 2/3 innings; the Orioles split those two games.

The ‘Over’/’Under’ is a combined 12-29 in Chen and
Archer's starts this season.

O's-Rays Betting
Trends

Baltimore is 39-41 on the road this season.

Tampa is 50-30 at home this year.

The ‘Over’/’Under’ is 37-39 in games played at the Tropicana this season.

Injury Update

Rays IF Evan Longoria did not start Sunday because of flu
symptoms, and is questionable for Monday's game. Also, Tampa OF Desmond
Jennings tweaked a hamstring Sunday, and is doubtful for Monday. So bettors
might want to check the line-up card before making their sports picks on today's game.

Our Take on Monday's
Game

We had some good luck with Chen earlier this year, but we
have to give Archer the edge in the pitching match-up. However, we're a little
leery of taking Tampa today, because of the possibility it might be without a
couple of regulars in the line-up. So instead of going with a side for our free Monday MLB picks, we'll instead look at the total, and go with the ‘Under’.